Loom picker



Feb. 13, 1962 J. L. H. RIVERA 3,020,932

LOOM PICKER Filed Feb. 19, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet -1 INVENTOR. JOSE LUIS RIVERA BY I; QZ

AT TORNEY Feb. 13, 1962 J. H. RIVERA 3,020,932

LOOM PICKER Filed Feb. 19, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 40 INVENTOR. I0 4/ Jose LUIS RIVERA BVY AT TOR NE Y United States Patent 3,020,932 LOQM PICKER Jose Luis Herrerra Rivera, Austria 920, Guadaiaiara, .Ialisco, Mexico Filed Feb. 19, 1960, Ser. No. 9,987 3 Claims. (Cl. 139-159) Generica'lly, my invention relates to pickers and in particular comprehends improvements in pickers designed for use on picker sticks employed in looms. By way of introduction the picker is the instrument which is engaged by the shuttle point and comprises the contacting means to throw the shuttle across the lay of the loom and receive it as is returns. Obviously the pickers are subject to a maximum degree of wear and buifeting as the application of power through the picker stick to throw and receive the shuttle after its passage across the loom is absorbed by the instrument. Since they are subject to such stress and strain pickers have to be frequently replaced which involves not only sizable capital outlays of money when large numbers of looms are employed in a mill but the attendant labor expense and loom fixer time involved is a factor, since pickers of conventional design require fifteen minutes or more to change.

I have devised an improved picker embodying a structure productive of a better function, namely, cylindrical or polygonal in transverse section and which in one embodiment includes a removable part which can be replaced with a new one in a matter of seconds, permitting the body portion of the picker to remain fixed to the picker stick. Time and money are thus saved.

The improved results obtained by my invention consist in the production of a more functional form with less quantity of material. Consequently the picker is lighter in weight than conventional constructions. Additionally, the picker includes 21 fewer number of angles which enhances durability. In devising the improved picker I have comprehended that the cylindrical or polygonal form will not deleteriously effect the quality, resistance and efficiency of the picker, in fact, they will be improved in such attributes.

Another advantage of my picker permits the facile interchange and replacement of one of its parts, particularly that which first becomes worn or destroyed, and to still utilize the rest, or body portion of the picker, in itself a manifest economic advantage. Another advantage of my construction is the provision of a cavity in the changeable part which can, if desired be. reinforced with any other material according to the requirements of the picker, which in view of the larger life of the reinforced picker, would accomplish one more economic advantage. Still further, my picker has about twenty percent (20%) more durability than any other currently manufactured pickers.

In its broader aspects, my invention provides a picker which is readily manufactured of highly durable materials, as for example, plastics of the nylon, Teflon family, or for that matter any durable material which can be molded, compressed, or otherwise fabricated into the picker of my construction.

Briefly described, my picker in one embodiment comprises a cylindrical body portion, a groove for the reception of the picker stick, and recesses for the shuttle, while another and preferred embodiment may be in the form of a truncated quadrangular pyramid or other form required for any other special picker including a removable and replaceable part which can be expeditiously unfastened and replaced.

In its broader aspects, my invention provides a picker which can be economically and readily fabricated of durable material and is adapted for use in multi-loomed mills at great saving in replacement and repair cost.

My invention comprehends the employment not only of the means described, but of equivalent means for performing the recited functions. It is understood by persons familiar with this class of articles that variations "are possible according to the type of looms in which the picker is to be used, without departing from the spirit or range of the invention.

The invention is more fully described hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, by way of example, wherein like symbols refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1, a front elevational view of one embodiment of my picker.

FIG. 2, an end elevation along line 2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3, a front elevation of another example of a picker.

FIG. 4, an end elevation taken along line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5, a sectional view along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6, front elevational view of another embodiment of my invention.

FIG. 7, an end elevation taken along line 77 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8, an exploded sectional view taken on line 88 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9, an end elevation of a modification.

FIG. 10, a partial sectional view along line 1010 of FIG. 9.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, numeral 5 denotes one embodiment of my picker with body portion having a knurled outer peripheral surface and said portion 6 molded, compressed or otherwise fabricated into an oblique cylindrical form of the same diameter throughout its length and having therein a transversely extending obliquely angled rectilinear groove 7 for the reception of a picker stick S. I comprehend that my picker may be fabricated of plastic materials such as nylon, Teflon, Fiberglas, vulcanized rubber or any other material having the desired resistance to the wear and stress to which a picker is subjected in a shuttle loom. The materials listed are however, by way of example, and not limitation. The picker might for example, be made of aluminum or magnesium.

Target opening or depression 8 is provided in face 9 of picker 5 and this may be oval-like in conformation as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 while rearward thereof is longitudinally disposed bore 10. This bore or cavity is virtually a continuation of opening 8 and in practice may be fitted with any suitable resilient cushioning material to bumper the strikes of the shuttle as it is thrown across the lay of the loom. Or the bore may be left as shown to provide an air cushion.

For the purpose of facilitating attachment of picker 5 to the stick S the rear 'wall 11 thereof is countersunk as at 12 and screw receiving hold 13 provided for screw 14 to attach the picker.

In FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 is illustrated another embodiment of picker 15, characterized by the provision of removable head 16 screw threaded as at 17 to mate the complemental screw threads 18 in abbreviated longitudinal bore 19 at the forward end of body portion 20. When it is necessary to replace head I6 when it becomes worn, it is possible to unfasten and remove the head by a few counterclockwise turns, and replace with another head 16. Face 9 of head 16 is at an oblique angle with respect to the longitudinal plane of picker 15 while the mating faces 21, 22 of head 16 and body portion 20, respectively, are right angled with respect to said plane and the screw threads 17, 18.

In FIGS, 6, 7, and 8 I provide a picker 23 wherein body portion 24 is in the form of a truncated quadrangular pyramid having oppositely disposed shoulders 25, 26 at forward end 27, said end having longitudinal bore 28 threaded at 29 to receive the complemental threads 30 of removable head 31. Head 31 is recessed at 32 with an opening 33 leading to bore 34 in said head which can, when the head is positioned as depicted in FIG. 6, be fitted with cushioning material if desired, to cushion the strikes of the shuttle.

Picker 23 is grooved as at 35 to receive the picker stick and has a recessed rear wall 36 leading to hole 37 for the picker holding screw.

In FIGS. 9 and 10 I show another example of a picker 38 in oblique cylindrical form with the forward end 39 cylindrically bored and threaded at 40 to receive complementally threaded end 41 of replaceable head 42 having knurls 43 for facilitating removable movement of the head from the picker. The face 44 is recessed at 45 while another recess or depression 46 is in rear wall 47 leading to screw hole 48, and an opening 49 may be provided for another means to fasten the picker to the stick.

This latter embodiment also permits of facile removal of the head 42 when it becomes worn, and but a few seconds is required to remove the head and replace with a new one.

I have by actual tests evidenced that pickers made according to my invention have about 20% more durability than conventional pickers employed today, due to the greater area of surface impact as a result of difference in diameter on my cylindrical picker as compared with the width of other pickers, as for example, those having a quadrangular surface of impact.

In FIGS. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 it will be noted that the outer peripheral edges of head 31, recess 32, and opening 33 define a plurality of concentric circles, as is also the case with the picker shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

These concentric circles, resulting from the cylindrical form of the picker, accomplishes a saving in the time expended by the loom fixer or supervisor in aligning or leveling the pickers as it is merely necessary to check the hole made by the shuttle in the picker head with reference to these concentric circles to determine whether the pickers are properly fixed. In a mill with many looms, the saving in time and labor expense is very great.

Finally, once the picker is afiixed to the picker stick, that assembly may be considered permanent because if the head of my picker becomes worn, it can be removed and replaced in a matter of seconds, and the body will in the ordinary condition outwear the picker stick. Considering that my picker head can be removed and replaced in seconds when the conventional picker takes 10 to 15 minutes or more to replace, the saving to the mill owner and operator will be enormous.

Because of the basic cylindrical form of my picker, less material will be required to fabricate it, representing another substantial saving.

I contemplate that the replaceable heads of my pickers may be of the same or different, more durable material than the body portion of the articles, and, too, they may be fastened to the said portions by means other than screw threads.

These and other advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and I reserve the right to make such changes or modifications as may come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A picker for a shuttle loom including a body portion of truncated, quadrangular, pyramidal form having a recessed rear wall at its smaller end and a cylindrical portion at its larger end integral with and offset from the body portion, a pair of oppositely disposed shoulders at the junction of said cylindrical portion and the body portion, the cylindrical portion longitudinally bored and internally threaded at its outer end, a cylindrically formed and separable head recessed at its outer end and having a longitudinal bore spaced from said recess and connected therewith by an aperture, the said head complementally externally threaded to mate the threads of the body portion, the bored portion in the head and body portion of the picker adapted to receive material to cushion the strikes of the shuttle, the outer peripheral edges of the cylindrical portion of the body portion, the cylindrical head, the recess of the head and the aperture defining a plurality of concentric circles with said aperture the centermost circle whereby alignment, leveling and checking the set of pickers is facilitated.

2. A picker as in claim 1 wherein the head portion is fabricated of different and more durable material than that of the body portion, and the head is adapted to be replaced when the recessed portion becomes worn through contact with the shuttle.

3. A picker, as in claim 1, wherein the head and body portion may be fabricated of nylon, Fiberglas, Teflon, resinous thermoplastic and thermosetting plastic materials which can be economically fabricated into the picker construction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,415,161 Dubois May 9, 1922 2,549,394 Shivell et al. Apr. 17, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 253,264 Great Britain June 17, 1926 723,262 Great Britain Feb. 2, 1955 

